Insight into the Glucose Metabolism of Immune Cells in Sepsis

Aim of review: To provide a new direction for clarifying the pathogenesis of sepsis and seeking efficient prevention and treatment for sepsis. Methods: The articles and literature regarding metabolic change of immune cells and/or its role in sepsis published in the last five years were retrieved from PubMed and Web of Science. A basic search was performed using keywords of sepsis, immunity, immune cells, metabolism, etc. In addition, some classical researches and reviews were also referenced.Recent findings: The cellular metabolism dictates the fate and function of the immune cells, which plays a key role in the occurrence and development of sepsis. Since the immune cells are activated, the cellular metabolism switches from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis (the Warburg effect). The Warburg effect of monocytes/macrophages is the metabolic basis not only for stimulating the inflammatory response but also for trained immunity. In addition, the Warburg effect also contributes to the maturation of dendritic cells and the activation and differentiation of T cells. Studies have shown that the immune cells from septic patients had an impaired ability to stimulate the Warburg effect.Summary: The immune state of the host is closely related to the metabolism of immune cells. Since cellular metabolism is amenable to pharmacological modulation, further elucidation of this mechanism may provide novel treatment strategies for sepsis. Whether regulating the Warburg effect could help patients survive from sepsis that needs to be further researched. Citation: Xu Liu, Shui-Jing Wu, Xiang-Ming Fang. Insight into the glucose metabolism of immune cells in sepsis. J Anesth Perioper Med 2017; 4: 38-44. doi: 10.24015/JAPM.2017.0005This is an open-access article, published by Evidence Based Communications (EBC). This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium or format for any lawful purpose. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.